Reducing the Risk: Building Skills to Prevent Pregnancy, STD and HIV
An Evidence-Based Practice
This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.
Description
The goal of the Reducing the Risk curriculum is to reduce unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in high school students. This curriculum focuses on highlighting the importance of not engaging in unprotected sex, either by abstaining from sex altogether or by using some form of contraception.
The Reducing the Risk curriculum spans 15 class periods and is taught by high school teachers. Prior to delivering the curriculum, teachers who volunteer to participate attend a three-day training sessions during which they have the opportunity to practice activities that they will engage in during the curriculum.
The lessons are all designed to help students learn to recognize and resist social pressure by participating in individual and group activities, class discussions, written and oral exercises, and role-playing situations. Students are also taught about anatomy, sexually transmitted diseases, and birth control. One important lesson that the curriculum emphasizes is that having unprotected sex even just once has its consequences. In addition, the curriculum encourages parent-child interaction by requiring that children ask their parents about their opinions on abstinence and contraceptives.
The Reducing the Risk curriculum spans 15 class periods and is taught by high school teachers. Prior to delivering the curriculum, teachers who volunteer to participate attend a three-day training sessions during which they have the opportunity to practice activities that they will engage in during the curriculum.
The lessons are all designed to help students learn to recognize and resist social pressure by participating in individual and group activities, class discussions, written and oral exercises, and role-playing situations. Students are also taught about anatomy, sexually transmitted diseases, and birth control. One important lesson that the curriculum emphasizes is that having unprotected sex even just once has its consequences. In addition, the curriculum encourages parent-child interaction by requiring that children ask their parents about their opinions on abstinence and contraceptives.
Goal / Mission
The goal of the Reducing the Risk curriculum is to increase knowledge about contraceptive use and protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
Results / Accomplishments
One study evaluated the impact of the Reducing the Risk curriculum. Twenty-three classes from 13 high schools in rural and urban California participated in the study, with another 23 classes serving as controls. Both intervention and control classes were required to fill out a questionnaire before and after the intervention, as well as six and 18 months post-intervention.
Participants in the treatment groups had gains in knowledge about contraceptive use that were significantly greater than those in the control group (p<0.001). Only students who had not initiated intercourse at baseline were evaluated on sexual experiences post-intervention. The researchers found that, 18 months after the curriculum was delivered, 38% of the comparison group had initiated intercourse while only 29% of the intervention group had done so, a significant difference (p<0.05).
Participants in the treatment groups had gains in knowledge about contraceptive use that were significantly greater than those in the control group (p<0.001). Only students who had not initiated intercourse at baseline were evaluated on sexual experiences post-intervention. The researchers found that, 18 months after the curriculum was delivered, 38% of the comparison group had initiated intercourse while only 29% of the intervention group had done so, a significant difference (p<0.05).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
ETR (Education, Training, Research) Associates
Topics
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
ETR (Education, Training, Research) Associates
Source
National Institutes of Health, Division of Research Resources; The Stuart Foundation; The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Date of publication
1991
Date of implementation
1990
Location
USA
For more details
Additional Audience
high school students